MSc. International Business (IB) Degree Coordinator Visits Three Institutions in Tanzania

7th Dec 2017 | Source: ugbs.ug.edu.gh

IntroductionThe Coordinator of the MSc. International Business Degree Programme at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has conducted a two day working visit to Tanzania to build networks and alliances to support the introduction of the MSc. International Business Degree Programme at the University of Ghana Business School. The Tanzanian visit entailed interactions with Mr. Akofa Ata, Managing Director, Unilever Tanzania; Dr. Sarah Phoya, Coordinator of Links and International Affairs, Ardhi University; Dr. Ulingeta Mbamba, Dean, University of Dar es Salaam Business School, and some alumni of the University of Ghana Business School.

Unilever Tanzania and UGBS Alumni
In interacting with the Managing Director of Unilever Tanzania, Professor Hinson expressed the desire of the UGBS to engage practitioners in the delivery of programmes through special talks and other innovative interventions. He also enquired if Unilever Tanzania would be willing to host students who enroll on the MSc. International Business Degree Programme when it is introduced, since an option of the programme requires students to undertake a study tour.

On his part, the MD, Akofa Ata expressed his willingness to host students who would choose Tanzania as one of the countries in East Africa for their study tour. He expressed his willingness to share his vast international marketing and brand development experiences either through the development of short videos to aid teaching or through guest lectures in Tanzania or Ghana depending on the venue of the lecture. The Coordinator of the MSc. International Business Degree Programme at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Professor Robert E. Hinson presented a token of a book to the Unilever MD. He also interacted and shared the vision of the MSc. International Business Degree programme with some alumni of the University of Ghana Business School, encouraging them to spread the word in East Africa to shore up the international enrollment for the programme.

With UGBS Alumni, Abena Ofori-Boafoa (BSc. Administration, Banking and Finance Graduate and currently at PwC Tanzania). Professor Hinson taught her in 2012

Ardhi University
Ardhi University which is located in the Capital city Dar-es-Salaam, is one of the few Universities in Africa that offers integrated training in the entire spectrum of land based disciplines, but combines this with the teaching of Accounting, Finance and other business based courses. In a meeting with Dr. Sarah Phoya, Coordinator of Links and International Affairs, Ardhi University, Professor Robert E. Hinson discussed the possibility of the University of Ghana and Ardhi University collaborating on International Business issues and other issues of common interest. Professor Hinson presented a copy of a University of Ghana MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) and some gifts from the UGBS International Business Degree Programme Office to Dr. Sarah Phoya.

With Dr. Sarah Phoya, Coordinator of Links and International Affairs, Ardhi University

University of Dar-es-Salaam Business School
The University of Dar-es-Salaam Business School is the oldest and biggest public university in Tanzania. It offers several Undergraduate, Masters and PhD programmes, and it has an existing Master of International Business Programme (MIB). The University of Dar-es-Salaam Business School Master of International Business (MIB) programme is designed to provide students with the knowledge and analytical capability that will enable them to take up leadership roles in International businesses. Apart from trading ideas on the respective IB Programmes in the two Business Schools (the existing one at the Dar-es-Salaam Business School and the upcoming one at the UGBS), possible areas of collaboration were discussed between Professor Hinson and the Dean of the University of Dar-es-salaam Business School, Dr. Mbamba. Professor Hinson presented a University of Ghana MOU to the Dean of the University of Dar-es-Salaam Business School as a basis of mutual collaboration in the future. He also presented some gifts from the UGBS International Business Degree Programme Office to the Dean of the University of Dar-es-Salaam Business School.

Conclusions
The trips were extremely useful overall and the summary below captures the essence of the visits and key agreements reached.

Unilever Tanzania

1. Unilever is willing to accept Students for institutional Visit
2. Letter of Agreement to be drafted and sent to Unilever

Ardhi University

1. UG MOU presented to them and they might be interested in accepting students for institutional visits
2. They may also consider granting UGBS faculty external examiner roles
3. Letter of Agreement to be drafted and sent to Dr. Sarah Phoya, Coordinator of Links and International Affairs, as well as Director of Business Studies

University of Dar-es-Salaam Business School

1. UG MOU presented to them and they might be interested in accepting Students for institutional visits
2. Letter of Agreement to be drafted and sent to the Dean of the Business School

Other institutions that will be visited as part of the International Business Degree Programme alliance building will include the Strathmore Business School, Lagos Business School, Kenya Institute of Management and the University States International University in Chandria, Kenya.